Means for grinding valves



March Z5, 1947. Q CULP i 2,417,971

I MEANSy FOR GRINDING VALVES Filed oct. 30, 1945 Q y I l, a; @wz

INVETQR.

' Train/5 ys.

Patented Mar. 25, 1947 UNITED STAT OFFICE 1 Claim. l

This invention relates to valve grinding means and is designed primarily for use in grinding tapered valves to their seats in such a manner that no scars or grooves which otherwise might be produced in the usual method, will be formed.

A further object is to mount the valve in such a manner while in engagement with its seat that it can be subjected to a vertical vibration while being rotated, thereby insuring a smooth grinding fit such as necessary in systems handling highly volatile fluids.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing,

Figure l is a view of the complete apparatus partly in elevation and partly in section, a valve being shown supported thereby in engagement with its seat.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22, Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, I designates the standards which are fxedly mounted and have rods 2 adjustably mounted therein, these rods extending downwardly from a cross bar 3 and being held in adjusted positions by any suitable means, such as set screws 4.

Suspension springs 5 extend downwardly from the cross bar 3 and can be adjustably connected thereto in any suitable manner, as by means of nuts 6 engaging screw threaded stems 1 on the springs. The lower ends of the springs are attached to a cross he'ad 8. The cross head provides a bearing for a drive shaft 9 adapted to be rotated at any desired speed. This shaft can have an electric motor I0 mounted thereon as shown, or the motor can be located at a remote point and be operatively connected to the shaft. It is merely essential that the shaft 9 be power driven. The shaft is mounted for up and down movement and has a collar II secured thereto and which bears downwardly on the cross head 8.

Shaft 9 which is mounted for free movement within the cross head, has a coupling I2 at one end adapted to be secured to the tapered valve I3 which is to be ground to its seat I4.

In practice the apparatus is set up where the shaft 9 is directly over the valve to be ground and said shaft is then coupled to the valve. Thereafter the springs 5 and/or the rods 2 are adjusted so that the cross head 8 will be supported yieldingly with the valve I3 in light contact with its seat. Thereafter the shaft 9 is rotated at a desired speed and the natural vibration set up as a result of the spring suspension provided, will cause a slight up and down movement of the cross head, shaft 9, and valve 3 as the valve is rotated with the result that a much smoother grinding action between the valve and its seat is effected than should the valve be held fixedly against longitudinal movement while rotating. In practice it has been found that a yieldingly suspended valve and driving mechanism properly balanced as explained, will not only expedite the grinding operation, but will produce results far superior to those heretofore possible, this being due primarily to the fact that natural longitudinal vibration of the valve is permitted during its rotation.

What is claimed is:

Valve grinding apparatus including a iixedly supported valve, a plug mounted for rotation therein, spring means for supporting the plug within the casing in light contact with the wall of the casing and for free natural vibration axially of the plug, and means for rotating the plug in the casing while yieldingly supported, thereby to set up the natural vibration during the rotation of the plug.

' LIDE CROCKER CULP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 427,904 Portenous May 13, 1890 944,845 Burns Dec. 28, 1909 1,893,637 Rogers Jan. 10, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 502,133 France Feb. 14, 1920 

